Delaware man pleads guilty to raping a woman and harassing a corrections officer

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A Delaware man who was accused of raping a local woman and then assaulting a corrections officer has pleaded guilty to several charges in Delaware County Common Pleas Court.

Shawn A. Harrel, 40, of 84 Scottwood Court, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of rape, as well as a charge of harassment by an inmate and a charge of vandalism in connection with the assault of a corrections officer at the Delaware County Jail.

The two counts of rape are first-degree felonies.

Harrel had been originally indicted on three counts of rape, with specifications designating him as a sexually violent predator. However, as part of plea negotiations, the third count of rape and the specifications were dismissed. Prosecutors said the specifications would have added between 10 years to life to any sentence Harrel receives.

Harrel is scheduled to be sentenced by Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Everett Krueger on Nov. 30 at 10:30 a.m.

Prosecutors allege that on the morning of July 9, Harrel went to the home of a Delaware woman he had only known for a week and forced her to perform sex acts with him. Assistant prosecutor Kyle Rohrer said that, although Harrel and the woman had had sex twice in the week they had known each other, she resisted and said no to Harrel’s advances on July 9.

While Harrel was in county jail awaiting his arraignment on the rape charges, he became agitated during a health checkup and began to throw medical equipment at jail personnel, prosecutors said. When corrections officers attempted to restrain him, he attempted to kick at them and spit in the face of corrections officer Joshua Young. Young reported that Harrel’s saliva had gotten inside his mouth and Young was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for a checkup.

Harrel was indicted again on July 24 on a charge of harassment by an inmate and a charge of vandalism, which are both fifth-degree felonies.

He initially pleaded not guilty to the harassment and vandalism charges at his arraignment on July 29 but he changed his plea to guilty on Oct. 21.

Harrel was still being held in the Delaware County Jail Thursday afternoon.

Harrel, a sex offender registered with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, was convicted of gross sexual imposition in 1999 and was ordered to register as a sex offender and serve 15 months in prison.

Harrel also has prior convictions in Delaware County Common Pleas Court for unlawful sexual conduct, burglary and receiving stolen property.

Harrel
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/10/web1_Shawn-Harrel.jpgHarrel

By Glenn Battishill

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Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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